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Athletics Celebrates Successful Year of Academic and Athletic Achievements

Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013

USU led the Western Athletic Conference in academic all-league honorees for the eighth year in a row while claiming three conference championships. (photo illustration from Athletics website)

The 2012-13 campaign was a successful one for Utah State [University] Athletics both in the classroom and on the field of play. Its student-athletes helped USU lead the Western Athletic Conference in academic all-league honorees for the eighth year in a row while claiming three conference championships.

Overall, 209 student-athletes received academic all-conference honors in the final season in the WAC, leading the league for the eighth year in a row. Additionally, 189 were recognized as Whitesides Scholar-Athletes. Utah State graduated 70 student-athletes during the 2012-13 school year.

On the competitive side, 104 student-athletes received all-WAC honors. Football, soccer and volleyball all won conference championships during the 2012-13 seasons, while the men’s cross country, men’s outdoor track and women’s basketball teams finished second.

During a record-setting season, Utah State football finished ninth in academic performance among schools in the final top 25 BCS standings. Then-senior safety McKade Brady was named a Capitol One First-Team Academic All-American. Running back Kerwynn Williams was named an honorable mention All-American by SI.com, while cornerback Will Davis was named to the same list while also earning third-team honors from CBSSports.com and fourth-team honors from Phil Steele.

Utah State’s soccer team was well-represented by Natalie Norris who was named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Scholar All-American as well as receiving first-team soccer CoSIDA academic All-American honors. Norris, Ashlyn Mulford and Jennifer Flynn received NSCAA first-team Scholar all-West Region honors. As a team, USU soccer earned the NSCAA team Academic Award for the 10th-straight year.

For her accomplishments on the pitch, Norris received Senior CLASS second-team All-American and Capital One Academic All-American honors

The USU golf team earned the Golf Coaches Association all-Academic team award. On an individual level, junior Tanner Higham was named to the CoSIDA Academic all-District VIII at-large team as well being named a Cleveland Golf/Srixon all-America Scholar by the GCAA.

Both the men's and women's track and field teams earned US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division I All-Academic honors. Individually, Kyle McKenna and Jodi Williams were named to the CoSIDA Acameic All-District VII team. After successful performances at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., junior Chari Hawkins and senior Will Henry each received second-team All-American honors.

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